Aliska Maria Kopplin “Dutch” Swenson was born August 21, 1918, in Schertz, Texas, to Hugo Wilhelm and Anna Katherine Wieding Kopplin. She was baptized November 10, 1918, in Christ the Redeemer Evangelical Church in Zuehls, Texas. She confirmed her faith on April 17, 1933, in St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Ray Point, Texas.

Aliska married Evar Carl Swenson on August 20, 1944, at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, Ray Point, Texas. They traveled and lived in many different places throughout Texas and Louisiana with Shorty’s job in drilling production. Upon Shorty’s retirement as Assistant Drilling Superintendent they moved to Three Rivers in 1972. Aliska had enjoyed being a waitress as a young woman at Ray’s Café, in Oakville, Texas, where she served many meals to busloads of enlisted men on their way to serve our country in World War II and at Ray's Café in Three Rivers. After retirement, Aliska continued to waitress, working for Live Oak Livestock Auction, McNeill’s Bar-B-Q, and the Staghorn Restaurant where she met and made a host of friends, including local lawmen and the Wal-Mart truck drivers whom she dearly loved. She continued to attend church at Our Savior Lutheran and enjoyed being among people. She was a proud member of the Oakville Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She had been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star for 69 years and was a past Matron.

Aliska was preceded in death by her husband, Evar Carl Swenson, on August 26, 1984; by her father, Hugo Kopplin on August 3, 1975; and by her mother, Anna Wieding Kopplin on June 8, 1989. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Alfred Hugo Kopplin in August 1998; and brother, Hilbert Henry Kopplin in April 2002. She also was preceded in death by her niece, Brenda Nesloney Moczygemba, and her nephews, Bruce Nesloney and Rocky Kopplin.

Aliska is survived by her sister, Anna Mae Kopplin Nesloney of Pawnee; her sister-in-law, Barbara Wolff Kopplin of Ray Point; and her nieces and nephews, Lou (Frank) Schulenburg, Dora (David) Wolfe, Donna (Glen) Mills, Butch (Patricia) Kopplin, Cheryl (Albert) Liska, Bert (Gaye) Nesloney, Dellene (Craig) Blackmore, Audrey Kopplin, Nancy (Richard) Lee, Buddy Kopplin, Beverly (Fred III) Schauer, Bunky (Kathy) Kopplin, Randy (Tammy) Kopplin, Warren (Haley) Kopplin, Crystal (Jason) Desselle and Tracy (Dustin) Favor. She is also survived by 30 grand-nieces and nephews and 24 great-grandnieces and nephews. Also surviving “Dutch” are many close friends including her faithful friend, Dick Poore. The family would like to express their most sincere thanks to the staff of The Three Rivers Nursing Home for their love and care for Aliska, and also especially her personal sitter, Lillie Aldaba.

Visitation was held on Monday, March 11, 2013, at Galloway & Sons Funeral Home in Three Rivers, Texas, beginning at 6pm-8pm. A prayer service for Aliska was held that same evening at 7pm.

Funeral service was held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Three Rivers, Texas, at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, with interment following at the Three Rivers Cemetery.